I think of all the theaters I remember as a kid, THIS one is the one I remember and love the most. It wasn’t fancy or anything but it (seemed) HUGE to me and I saw so many movies there. I loved looking at the marquee as we drove by on Sunrise Highway. It stretched the entire width of the theater.
I’m just curious: re-reading Warren’s synopsis above dated Feb 13, 2004 of the Roxy’s final downfall. When the final first run movie ended it’s run, was there ANY outcry from the public over it’s closing? Was there any notice or discussion…ANYTHING??? Articles in the Times or any other paper telling people about it? Or did the public simply not care (in general, I mean. I assume some people did care…) I remember my Mother saying that she nearly cried the day she heard the Roxy was destroyed. She said she never expected it to go away. She thought it would last forever. Then she got another shock when Pennsylvania Station was demolished. Again, she thought it could never be destroyed….
There have been countless articles about what killed the movie musical and the best arguement is that it was “The Sound of Music.” Now, now…all you “Sound of Music” fans, don’t get your panties in a bind over that statement. It’s not a reflection on that film. Whether you like it or not is a matter of taste. It’s what the studios saw in the HUGE $$$$ that movie made. Instead of creating interesting, thought provoking adult musicals like they did in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s along with the family fare musicals, the studios sank all their money into rather nauseating family musical films like the ones you cite above (and you left out “Song of Norway” and “Half a Sixpence”). The end result was a flood of awful, family oriented musicals. And their collective awful-ness completely turned the movie going public against this kind of movie. In addition, the “new American wave” of movies was beginning which also didn’t help this kind of stuff.
I know a lot about films and such but why was 1967 such a banner year? You had some “new” Hollywood films that year like “The Graduate” and “Bonnie & Clyde”. Curious to know why 1967 was such a success financially? It’s a curious issue.
“Star Wars” defined the mass saturation releases that are used today but it was “Jaws” that was THE first film the “go wide” BIG time. When the studios say the $$$$$ pouring in when the did the wide release, any thought of the old time limited release was dead.
Look, the entire reason why I found this great website is because of The Roxy. I will never forget my parent’s describing this place. Their descriptions have remained with me to this day. My Mother often commented as I “ooh-ed” and “ahhh-ed” at the Music Hall how it paled in comparison to The Roxy. “Now that was a place” she would always say. So I don’t mean any offense.
Benjamin: Don’t know if the strange entrance you mention (entering the orchestra left side) is still there but it should be as the hotel has left and theater in fantastic condition. You can go to the Millenium and check it out. They didn’t stop me from going right into the theater. I got some looks but since I didn’t look suspicious, no one bothered me.
What I liked about this place is that it’s being USED. The orchestra seats are all gone but the stage and balcony are still in great condition and beautifully maintained. The orchestra area during my “tour” had catering hall style tables (round). Very nice and fascinating to see how it’s used now.
46 seats? This wasn’t exactly huge when it was a single screener. Did they take more space from the retail around them like the pizza place? How pathetic. And people must be going here because it’s still open.
“I remember their newspaper ads —always more brassy (for comedy) or lurid (for drama) than comparable ads for ever-so-dignified RCMH.”
You see? That’s what I mean. The Music Hall seemed to present a more “dignified” front while the Roxy appears to have put out a more sensationalistic approach to fill their seats. Very interesting.
This site has been quite educating and one of the surprising impressions that I’m getting is that, as grand as the Roxy was, it sounds like both it’s decor and presentation was, well…tacky as compared to the Music Hall. Someone either on the Roxy board or the Music Hall even kind of comes out says that the Music Hall’s presentation was classier than the Roxy’s. Ok…so maybe that person worked at the Music Hall and has not buried his vendetta against the Roxy but is there a grain of truth in this?
My Mom and Dad told me they would never be caught dead going to Penn Station to meet people coming into town without being dressed up!
And even I remember going to movies when I was very young and being dressed up. The one time I remember clearly was my first time at the Music Hall. Christ, I felt like I was going to church. But it added to the feeling that I was seeing and doing something unique and special.
My Mom and Dad told me they would never be caught dead going to Penn Station to meet people coming into town without being dressed up!
And even I remember going to movies when I was very young and being dressed up. The one time I remember clearly was my first time at the Music Hall. Christ, I felt like I was going to church. But it added to the feeling that I was seeing and doing something unique and special.
Honestly, it was a shock to see it playing there and it was first run in the summer of 1990! I remember taking my wife there and she said “oh my God, isn’t this the place with the weird owners?” Now keep in mind, she was from Brooklyn. She had even heard of the stories. We actually had a fine time. The theater was packed and my wife loved the fresh popcorn. She said how nice an experience it was. That was what was so paradoxical about the place. It could be nice or not so nice. Like you said before, depended upon what meds they were taking.
I’m too young to remember the classic roadshows like “My Fair Lady” and such but my Mother remembered them fondly. She said they were BIG deals where people would dress up and such. It was like going to see a Broadway show. My Mother and Father saw “My Fair Lady”, “The Sound of Music” and “Cleopatra” roadshows in Manhattan and they talked about the experience.
And yes, I believe during intermission, they said that you’d mill around, talk, smoke, etc. and then go back in for the second showing.
For “Cleopatra”, there were two(!) Intermissions. The whole thing took almost five hours to get through.
Well, the intermission was where I realized how the theaters were setup. We saw “Proof” as the Walter Kerr and at intermission, everyone simply got up and walked out of the exit doors. It was a beautiful summer night. You could stand in the street and look right onto the stage. Weird and funny at the same time. Kind of surreal.
Look where Garden City is. One of the most bizarre aspects of LI is that drive up from Baldwin through Hempstead. Going north along Henry St.in Hempstead, you hit the remains of the old trolley line and the street became Clinton St in Garden City. You literally go bump and one second you’re in slummy Hempstead and the next, beautiful Garden City with mansions all around.
Not to beat Nassau into the ground, but even Garden City isn’t what it used to be. Bloomingdales is now a SEARS!!!!!!!!!! The famed N. Franklin Street is NOTHING like it used to be. People who live there now brag about how nice it is. Huh? You didn’t see it back in the 70’s when it got and deserved it’s name as the “Fifth Ave. of LI”.
As for Roosevelt Field, this is not the place to discuss it but what the hell…as I’ve said before, it’s a shadow of it’s former self. Even back in 1998, it was still a great mall. But in a very short time, it’s become a disgrace…dirty, lack of maintenance, you name it. I have heard (from a couple of friends of mine who still live on LI) that the reason for the mall’s turnaround is a re-routing of several bus lines. I shall not elaborate. But I don’t think it’s just that.
God, I remember the mall and the theater back in the 80’s. It really was like a small city…with all the stores and that great WELL maintained theater. EVERYONE went there. Then I went there in 2002 and it was sooooooooooooooooooooooo depressing. I could not believe how bad the place was.
As for Westbury, I remember taking my future wife for dinner in a restaurant a couple of doors down from the theater (forgot the name) and then catching “Ghost” at the theater. Lovely time. Now? I shudder to think of what the area looks like now.
“Nassau could never look like a borough of the city of New York!”
HA! Want to make a bet? It already does and Westbury/New Cassell is quickly turning into Nassau’s version of Brownsville or East NY…especially New Cassell.
Nassau fell apart in the 80’s. Back in the 70’s, it still felt like a decent suburb. But they developed the living hell out of it in the 80’s and destroyed so much.
Now it’s even worse than it was. I’m shocked at what I see there now…the gangs, the graffiti. I know no one my age who wants to live there anymore. Maybe 30 or 40 years from now, it will begin to regentrify. Brooklyn has more potential than Nassau does. How ironic…the 5 boroughs were nearly destroyed by the post war housing boom on LI. But now Nassau’s on the decline while the 5 boroughs continue to get hotter and hotter.
Sorry…I know this is not the place to have a discussion about urban/suburban development. But in some ways, the decline of movie theaters DOES pertain to the topic.
For me, as a kid during the 70’s, waiting on line to see a movie was common. I actually used to love it because it created this great sense of anticipation. I remember waiting on line to see “Mary Poppins” and how the line got bigger, and bigger and bigger to the point that I realized I was about to see something extraordinary.
And it created buzz to see people waiting on line also.
RE: the size of Times Square Theaters…YES I totally agree with you about the size of some of the lobbies. The Broadway theaters are especially remarkable in how they use the space. I’m always amazed at how efficient they are with the exit doors right off the auditorium and no fancy lobby. They are elaborately decorated but with very little lobby space. Like the Walter Kerr is like that. I saw “Barnum” years ago at the St. James and I marvelled at how when it was over, the doors out were directly behind the last row of the orchestra. They opened and within a matter of five minutes, the theater was empty.
I think what doomed the Baldwin was the lack of a balcony. This theater was virtually identical in size and basic design to the one in Franklin Square. When we used to go to that one, I always felt we were in the same place. The key differnece between the two was the the Franklin Square still had the balcony whereas Baldwin’s was removed in the late 60’s for some reason. When they decided to multiplex, I think they realized they could get more theaters out of the Franklin Square than the Baldwin. The most they could’ve gotten out of the Baldwin was two or maybe four VERY small theaters. I assume they felt it was not worth the cost. Also, the Baldwin remained a single screen long after the wave of multiplexing former one screeners had taken place. It closded in ‘85 when the new stage of multiplexing was taking place where theaters like the Fantasy and Green Acres had their insides completely gutted and remade.
The Baldwin was in an ideal location and, best of all, had tremendous parking. If it had been just slightly bigger, it would’ve been multiplexed and it could’ve helped the area stay nice. Now there’s nothing to bring people to that neighborhood. It’s depressing.
Someone above mentions “Taxi Driver” and the other night it was on (it’s on a lot lately on cable). Anyway…does anyone know what movie theater Travis takes Betsy to when the go to the porn movie? Just curious what it is now..
Again, why the HELL couldn’t they open “The Aviator” at the Music Hall? Can you imagine seeing that there? Oh, that’s right…they have the “Spectacular” there and it would interfere…
But as much as The Ziegfeld gets somewhat of a bad rep here on this site, I was there in 1995 to see “Braveheart” and I have to say I was mightily impressed with it’s size, the screen and the sound. It was very nice inside though you’d never guess it from the outside. It’s so plain.
Regarding the grand lounge in the lower level of RCMH, when I went there for the Christmas show this year, I thought it was MUCH smaller than I remember it. Now you’d think this was because the last time I saw it was as a kid but it wasn’t. I was there in 1986 for an REM concert and I remember the downstairs area being HUGE. And what’s more, the men’s bathroom used to have more, well, facilities….I remember going there at the concert and thinking “Geez…I never saw so many urinals in my life!”. Excuse the bad taste but that’s what I remember. What the HELL did they do to the lounge? Where did the rest of it go?
“Staff that doesn’t give a damn”…well that sums it up nicely. The Hyway in Fair Lawn is dinky but the staff is small but is nice and cares about the customers.
I haven’t a clue what Loew’s is thinking with their management of this place. It’s a cattle call…they herd as many people in as they can and then rush them out. Very poorly maintained but at least for now, it’s better than the 10 Plex in Paramus which hasn’t been maintained in years. In another five years, I can’t imagine what condition the place will be in. It must produce some big numbers for them because it’s always packed and it’s in a mall that appears to be very sucessful.
RobertR: I would hope there would be an outcry by the “blue-blood” types of upper Manhattan if this was to be closed. It’s a way classy place and one of the few (only?) left in the City or at least in the upper east side. But you never know…
I guess someone would have to consult the terms of the lease. It could be a situation like The Guild. When the lease is up, the gig might be also…
I think of all the theaters I remember as a kid, THIS one is the one I remember and love the most. It wasn’t fancy or anything but it (seemed) HUGE to me and I saw so many movies there. I loved looking at the marquee as we drove by on Sunrise Highway. It stretched the entire width of the theater.
RobertR: what is a free booking zone and how does if effect a theater’s films?
I’m just curious: re-reading Warren’s synopsis above dated Feb 13, 2004 of the Roxy’s final downfall. When the final first run movie ended it’s run, was there ANY outcry from the public over it’s closing? Was there any notice or discussion…ANYTHING??? Articles in the Times or any other paper telling people about it? Or did the public simply not care (in general, I mean. I assume some people did care…) I remember my Mother saying that she nearly cried the day she heard the Roxy was destroyed. She said she never expected it to go away. She thought it would last forever. Then she got another shock when Pennsylvania Station was demolished. Again, she thought it could never be destroyed….
There have been countless articles about what killed the movie musical and the best arguement is that it was “The Sound of Music.” Now, now…all you “Sound of Music” fans, don’t get your panties in a bind over that statement. It’s not a reflection on that film. Whether you like it or not is a matter of taste. It’s what the studios saw in the HUGE $$$$ that movie made. Instead of creating interesting, thought provoking adult musicals like they did in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s along with the family fare musicals, the studios sank all their money into rather nauseating family musical films like the ones you cite above (and you left out “Song of Norway” and “Half a Sixpence”). The end result was a flood of awful, family oriented musicals. And their collective awful-ness completely turned the movie going public against this kind of movie. In addition, the “new American wave” of movies was beginning which also didn’t help this kind of stuff.
I know a lot about films and such but why was 1967 such a banner year? You had some “new” Hollywood films that year like “The Graduate” and “Bonnie & Clyde”. Curious to know why 1967 was such a success financially? It’s a curious issue.
“Star Wars” defined the mass saturation releases that are used today but it was “Jaws” that was THE first film the “go wide” BIG time. When the studios say the $$$$$ pouring in when the did the wide release, any thought of the old time limited release was dead.
Look, the entire reason why I found this great website is because of The Roxy. I will never forget my parent’s describing this place. Their descriptions have remained with me to this day. My Mother often commented as I “ooh-ed” and “ahhh-ed” at the Music Hall how it paled in comparison to The Roxy. “Now that was a place” she would always say. So I don’t mean any offense.
The Fantasy might’ve been designed properly but they also gutted a fine looking theater.
Benjamin: Don’t know if the strange entrance you mention (entering the orchestra left side) is still there but it should be as the hotel has left and theater in fantastic condition. You can go to the Millenium and check it out. They didn’t stop me from going right into the theater. I got some looks but since I didn’t look suspicious, no one bothered me.
What I liked about this place is that it’s being USED. The orchestra seats are all gone but the stage and balcony are still in great condition and beautifully maintained. The orchestra area during my “tour” had catering hall style tables (round). Very nice and fascinating to see how it’s used now.
46 seats? This wasn’t exactly huge when it was a single screener. Did they take more space from the retail around them like the pizza place? How pathetic. And people must be going here because it’s still open.
“I remember their newspaper ads —always more brassy (for comedy) or lurid (for drama) than comparable ads for ever-so-dignified RCMH.”
You see? That’s what I mean. The Music Hall seemed to present a more “dignified” front while the Roxy appears to have put out a more sensationalistic approach to fill their seats. Very interesting.
This site has been quite educating and one of the surprising impressions that I’m getting is that, as grand as the Roxy was, it sounds like both it’s decor and presentation was, well…tacky as compared to the Music Hall. Someone either on the Roxy board or the Music Hall even kind of comes out says that the Music Hall’s presentation was classier than the Roxy’s. Ok…so maybe that person worked at the Music Hall and has not buried his vendetta against the Roxy but is there a grain of truth in this?
My Mom and Dad told me they would never be caught dead going to Penn Station to meet people coming into town without being dressed up!
And even I remember going to movies when I was very young and being dressed up. The one time I remember clearly was my first time at the Music Hall. Christ, I felt like I was going to church. But it added to the feeling that I was seeing and doing something unique and special.
My Mom and Dad told me they would never be caught dead going to Penn Station to meet people coming into town without being dressed up!
And even I remember going to movies when I was very young and being dressed up. The one time I remember clearly was my first time at the Music Hall. Christ, I felt like I was going to church. But it added to the feeling that I was seeing and doing something unique and special.
Honestly, it was a shock to see it playing there and it was first run in the summer of 1990! I remember taking my wife there and she said “oh my God, isn’t this the place with the weird owners?” Now keep in mind, she was from Brooklyn. She had even heard of the stories. We actually had a fine time. The theater was packed and my wife loved the fresh popcorn. She said how nice an experience it was. That was what was so paradoxical about the place. It could be nice or not so nice. Like you said before, depended upon what meds they were taking.
I’m too young to remember the classic roadshows like “My Fair Lady” and such but my Mother remembered them fondly. She said they were BIG deals where people would dress up and such. It was like going to see a Broadway show. My Mother and Father saw “My Fair Lady”, “The Sound of Music” and “Cleopatra” roadshows in Manhattan and they talked about the experience.
And yes, I believe during intermission, they said that you’d mill around, talk, smoke, etc. and then go back in for the second showing.
For “Cleopatra”, there were two(!) Intermissions. The whole thing took almost five hours to get through.
Imagine nowadays dressing up to see a movie!
Well, the intermission was where I realized how the theaters were setup. We saw “Proof” as the Walter Kerr and at intermission, everyone simply got up and walked out of the exit doors. It was a beautiful summer night. You could stand in the street and look right onto the stage. Weird and funny at the same time. Kind of surreal.
Look where Garden City is. One of the most bizarre aspects of LI is that drive up from Baldwin through Hempstead. Going north along Henry St.in Hempstead, you hit the remains of the old trolley line and the street became Clinton St in Garden City. You literally go bump and one second you’re in slummy Hempstead and the next, beautiful Garden City with mansions all around.
Not to beat Nassau into the ground, but even Garden City isn’t what it used to be. Bloomingdales is now a SEARS!!!!!!!!!! The famed N. Franklin Street is NOTHING like it used to be. People who live there now brag about how nice it is. Huh? You didn’t see it back in the 70’s when it got and deserved it’s name as the “Fifth Ave. of LI”.
As for Roosevelt Field, this is not the place to discuss it but what the hell…as I’ve said before, it’s a shadow of it’s former self. Even back in 1998, it was still a great mall. But in a very short time, it’s become a disgrace…dirty, lack of maintenance, you name it. I have heard (from a couple of friends of mine who still live on LI) that the reason for the mall’s turnaround is a re-routing of several bus lines. I shall not elaborate. But I don’t think it’s just that.
God, I remember the mall and the theater back in the 80’s. It really was like a small city…with all the stores and that great WELL maintained theater. EVERYONE went there. Then I went there in 2002 and it was sooooooooooooooooooooooo depressing. I could not believe how bad the place was.
As for Westbury, I remember taking my future wife for dinner in a restaurant a couple of doors down from the theater (forgot the name) and then catching “Ghost” at the theater. Lovely time. Now? I shudder to think of what the area looks like now.
“Nassau could never look like a borough of the city of New York!”
HA! Want to make a bet? It already does and Westbury/New Cassell is quickly turning into Nassau’s version of Brownsville or East NY…especially New Cassell.
Nassau fell apart in the 80’s. Back in the 70’s, it still felt like a decent suburb. But they developed the living hell out of it in the 80’s and destroyed so much.
Now it’s even worse than it was. I’m shocked at what I see there now…the gangs, the graffiti. I know no one my age who wants to live there anymore. Maybe 30 or 40 years from now, it will begin to regentrify. Brooklyn has more potential than Nassau does. How ironic…the 5 boroughs were nearly destroyed by the post war housing boom on LI. But now Nassau’s on the decline while the 5 boroughs continue to get hotter and hotter.
Sorry…I know this is not the place to have a discussion about urban/suburban development. But in some ways, the decline of movie theaters DOES pertain to the topic.
For me, as a kid during the 70’s, waiting on line to see a movie was common. I actually used to love it because it created this great sense of anticipation. I remember waiting on line to see “Mary Poppins” and how the line got bigger, and bigger and bigger to the point that I realized I was about to see something extraordinary.
And it created buzz to see people waiting on line also.
RE: the size of Times Square Theaters…YES I totally agree with you about the size of some of the lobbies. The Broadway theaters are especially remarkable in how they use the space. I’m always amazed at how efficient they are with the exit doors right off the auditorium and no fancy lobby. They are elaborately decorated but with very little lobby space. Like the Walter Kerr is like that. I saw “Barnum” years ago at the St. James and I marvelled at how when it was over, the doors out were directly behind the last row of the orchestra. They opened and within a matter of five minutes, the theater was empty.
I think what doomed the Baldwin was the lack of a balcony. This theater was virtually identical in size and basic design to the one in Franklin Square. When we used to go to that one, I always felt we were in the same place. The key differnece between the two was the the Franklin Square still had the balcony whereas Baldwin’s was removed in the late 60’s for some reason. When they decided to multiplex, I think they realized they could get more theaters out of the Franklin Square than the Baldwin. The most they could’ve gotten out of the Baldwin was two or maybe four VERY small theaters. I assume they felt it was not worth the cost. Also, the Baldwin remained a single screen long after the wave of multiplexing former one screeners had taken place. It closded in ‘85 when the new stage of multiplexing was taking place where theaters like the Fantasy and Green Acres had their insides completely gutted and remade.
The Baldwin was in an ideal location and, best of all, had tremendous parking. If it had been just slightly bigger, it would’ve been multiplexed and it could’ve helped the area stay nice. Now there’s nothing to bring people to that neighborhood. It’s depressing.
Someone above mentions “Taxi Driver” and the other night it was on (it’s on a lot lately on cable). Anyway…does anyone know what movie theater Travis takes Betsy to when the go to the porn movie? Just curious what it is now..
Again, why the HELL couldn’t they open “The Aviator” at the Music Hall? Can you imagine seeing that there? Oh, that’s right…they have the “Spectacular” there and it would interfere…
But as much as The Ziegfeld gets somewhat of a bad rep here on this site, I was there in 1995 to see “Braveheart” and I have to say I was mightily impressed with it’s size, the screen and the sound. It was very nice inside though you’d never guess it from the outside. It’s so plain.
Regarding the grand lounge in the lower level of RCMH, when I went there for the Christmas show this year, I thought it was MUCH smaller than I remember it. Now you’d think this was because the last time I saw it was as a kid but it wasn’t. I was there in 1986 for an REM concert and I remember the downstairs area being HUGE. And what’s more, the men’s bathroom used to have more, well, facilities….I remember going there at the concert and thinking “Geez…I never saw so many urinals in my life!”. Excuse the bad taste but that’s what I remember. What the HELL did they do to the lounge? Where did the rest of it go?
“Staff that doesn’t give a damn”…well that sums it up nicely. The Hyway in Fair Lawn is dinky but the staff is small but is nice and cares about the customers.
I haven’t a clue what Loew’s is thinking with their management of this place. It’s a cattle call…they herd as many people in as they can and then rush them out. Very poorly maintained but at least for now, it’s better than the 10 Plex in Paramus which hasn’t been maintained in years. In another five years, I can’t imagine what condition the place will be in. It must produce some big numbers for them because it’s always packed and it’s in a mall that appears to be very sucessful.
RobertR: I would hope there would be an outcry by the “blue-blood” types of upper Manhattan if this was to be closed. It’s a way classy place and one of the few (only?) left in the City or at least in the upper east side. But you never know…
I guess someone would have to consult the terms of the lease. It could be a situation like The Guild. When the lease is up, the gig might be also…